What's The Deal With "Never Gigged" Gear?

Sufenta · #1 12-12-2007, 10:02 PM

Maybe this belongs in the FS section, but I'm not selling anything. My question is why so many people selling gear make a point of saying that their gear has 'never been gigged', or 'only gigged once', etc. Granted gigging requires moving gear and the venue may allow smoking, but really, I 'gigged' last night and brought my gear back exactly like it was before I left. Gear can get damaged just as easily at home as in a club. A ding is a ding is a ding. To me there is absolutely no value in whether or not a piece of gear I'm considering buying used has ever been gigged with. Is it just me?

whitespike · #2 12-12-2007, 10:06 PM

Man, I don't give a **** about it either. I want some wear on my instruments. It reminds me of that old commerical where the kid doesn't want his mom to wash his football jersey (in whatever product was being advertised). To me, a perfect insrument screams "bedroom player."

Sufenta · #3 12-12-2007, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitespike

=] To me, a perfect insrument screams "bedroom player."

Amen!

MarkMyWordsXx · #4 12-12-2007, 10:16 PM

there just trying to spice up the ad. theres more chance of it getting dinged up at a gig then at home so i guess they think it will make it more appealing. if someone says its a 'player' then it usually means theres some wear on it. bedroom or never gigged implies the opposite

mikeyswood · #5 12-12-2007, 10:23 PM

Its a musician's way of saying "Low miles, one owner, only driven on sunny days"

woodenskillet · #6 12-12-2007, 10:40 PM

Last week someone traded me a 2005 Fender MIM P-bass for a speaker cabinet I was selling. The thing had one tiny scratch and looked brand new. I sold it and used the cash to buy a 5 (or so) year old MTD Kingston that had one tiny chip in it and looked brand new. So I don't really know why it's happening or who is doing it, but there are a lot of instruments out there that have hardly been touched. The best laid plans of mice and men....

In ten or so years of gigging, I think the worst damage I did to a bass was have one fall against a wall and incur a slight abrasion. 99% of the time I just played and then put the bass back in the case looking like it did earlier in the day. I don't think gigging necessarily means that a bass has been beaten to death.

whitespike · #7 12-12-2007, 10:43 PM

Unless you're in a Who tribute band, or a punk outfit

The_D · #8 12-12-2007, 10:48 PM

I would say never gigged or gigged once to get a better price. Cabs and PA gear especially have a good chance getting dings loading in and out of cars/vans to get to gigs.

Better price for better condition. Simple as that.

Vin_MM_Sabre_79 · #9 12-12-2007, 10:54 PM

Also- beer spillage, smoke and exposure to guitarists.

Sarah5string · #10 12-13-2007, 06:30 AM

Personally I would prefer to get something that had been gigged... that way I'd know that it's up to the job.

i_got_a_mohawk · #11 12-13-2007, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_D

I would say never gigged or gigged once to get a better price. Cabs and PA gear especially have a good chance getting dings loading in and out of cars/vans to get to gigs.

Better price for better condition. Simple as that.

+1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vin_MM_Sabre_79

Also- beer spillage, smoke and exposure to guitarists.

+1

Remember, guys, not everyone takes care of their gear, some people get carried away and set fire to thier stuff on stage etc

Also, if its been gigged its probably more likely to be suffering from belt buckle rash etc.

But, your probably right, 90% of the time its just a bedroom player.

fenderhutz · #12 12-13-2007, 07:01 AM

I think gigged, I think cigarette smoke. If I am buying an amp to use in a home studio I'd rather not have that smell.

mjolnir · #13 12-13-2007, 07:30 AM

Looking at gear that's been heavily gigged reminds me of that Guitar Hero quote: "I used to freak out whenever my amp caught fire, but now I kind of dig the tone."

But in the end, all I care about is if the gear is in good working order. If it's got some battle scars, that's cool with me.

Wesley R · #14 12-13-2007, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

I think gigged, I think cigarette smoke. If I am buying an amp to use in a home studio I'd rather not have that smell.

When I think gigged I think -40 below to 120 above in a trailer for an hour, put away hot, fired up cold and banged around during moving.

Best of Luck,
Wesley R.

bassbully · #15 12-13-2007, 07:50 AM

With the no smoking laws its not as bad but you ever check out a bass or guitar that was in a smoky room or bars for years and put in cases

That smell wont go away...nasty. Gigging puts more stress or chances of it on a bass or equipment then home play that the reason. I have spilled beer on my basses at a gig and sweated on them ...never at home.

I just traded two MIM jazz basses a month ago at a local dealer and got top dollar for both. The dealer looked at me kinda amazed when i said i gigged with both for 3 years. I watch my gear plus wipe em down and put them away in cases pronto right after the last note. You would think mine looked like bedroom basses.

SteveC · #16 12-13-2007, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitespike

o me, a perfect insrument screams "bedroom player."

Or, it screams somene who likes to take care of his stuff. I am not a "bedroom" player, and my stuff looks good. I suppose someone who has a nice car screams I don't drive or a nice house screams I don't live here.

If you want to have you stuff all beat to hell, tha's fine and I suppose for some that's the look they want, but don't tell me I'm less of a player because my stuff looks well cared for.

BellBottomBlues · #17 12-13-2007, 08:02 AM

I don't see the point for basses, cept that they usually have less dings (like head stock dings etc) but for amps yeah. It means that they were hardly ever, if ever, turned up really loud (aka gig volume)

Sufenta · #18 12-13-2007, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellBottomBlues

It means that they were hardly ever, if ever, turned up really loud (aka gig volume)

Am I somehow damaging my LMII and Bergs by playing them at 'gigging' volume? I thought thats what they were made to do.
A recent bass FS post stated, 'bass never gigged', but then went on to disclose the numerous chips and dings in the finish of the bass.

Stuggi · #19 12-13-2007, 09:59 AM

Amp's usually take more stress at gigs, I mean, how many of you have blown up an amp at bedroom level vs. how many of have blown up an amp at a gig / loud practice.

I think it's quite nice to know that a bass I'm buying have seen light wear, but other than that it's quite useless knowledge. A lightly used bass could perhaps have less masked faults...

Still, all my gear looks like the day I bought 'em, but I'm kinda obsessive about my stuff.

Juniorkimbrough · #20 12-13-2007, 10:54 AM

I'd have to disagree. I think gear that has been gigged is a lot more prone to cosmetic damage than gear that sits in your bedroom and doesn't get moved.

Also with amps and cabs, if they have been gigged that means they have probably been pushed a lot harder than an amp or cab that was played at low volumes which may be a problem especially with speakers. edit: i see that this has already been mentioned multiple times....that's what i get for not reading the whole thread first.

I take care of my stuff but not everyone who gigs takes care of their gear as good as a lot of us TB'ers do.